Doctors believe several dozen such cases have occurred in London between March and May, with bodies lying undetected for so long they had started to decompose, The Guardian reported.
While the exact number is unknown, as all cases are referred to the local coroner upon discovery, more precise numbers will be heard in inquests in the coming months.
The head of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Martin Marshall told the paper these deaths could be linked to the lockdown banning people from visiting each other and pushing people to avoid necessary NHS care.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is also creating an epidemic of loneliness, not just for older people, and sadly there are some people who will fall through the net,” he said.
“GPs are working hard to check on their patients who are shielding, and the NHS volunteers have been doing a good job of looking after vulnerable people in their communities. But we are noticing an increase in people dying in the community, often at home and often due to conditions unrelated to Covid-19, such as cardiac arrest.
“If people are choosing not to seek medical attention for non-Covid illnesses for fear of catching the virus, or because they are worried about being a burden on the NHS, then it is incredibly concerning.”
